Passing the Baton

The three books in the heart of my Bible - the Psalms of David, the Proverbs of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes - demonstrate the passing of the baton of wisdom in one of the most prominent royal families of all time. In these three books, we get a front row seat to a great relay race to watch the transfer of power and all that accompanies it from one king to the next to the next.  Three generations of royalty.  At any time in any family's history, God is dealing with three generations - (1) Grandparents, (2) Parents, and (3) Children.

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.  Proverbs 4:11

Solomon, as the Parent generation, is passing a baton to the Children generation - the baton of wisdom.  Solomon received the baton from his father, who instructed him to seek wisdom above all else.

He [my father] taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live.  Get wisdom, get understanding, forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:  love her, and she shall keep thee.  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  (Proverbs 4:4-7)

When God gave the young, newly-crowned king the opportunity to make one request, Solomon requested that which his father had taught him was the principal thing - wisdom.  The baton had been successfully passed from one generation to the next.  Now Solomon is preparing to pass the baton to his son, by verbal instruction and righteous leadership.

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.  I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.  Proverbs 4:10-11

Solomon assures his son that his steps on the right path will not be "straitened", or 'pressed by want of sufficient room'.  In other words, the right path is not so narrow as to oppress; rather it is wide enough and smooth enough to run upon without stumbling.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Proverbs 4:12

Solomon urges his son to grab onto the baton and hang onto it as if his life depended upon it.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.   Proverbs 4:13

Solomon urges his son to stay on the right path.  Don't enter the wicked path, don't even get close enough to it to become curious about where it leads. 

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Proverbs 4:14-15

Solomon warns his son against the company of evil men...

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.  Proverbs 16-17

Solomon declares which path offers 'enlightenment' unto completeness, and which offers 'darkness' unto stumbling...

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.  Proverbs 4:18-19

Sadly, although Solomon started well, he does not finish well.  He walks the "right path" for the first half of his forty-year reign.  His decline and fall during the second half of his reign are brought about by polygamy, which led Solomon to adopt the idolatrous practices of his heathen wives, and the use of his great wealth to gratify his narcissistic desires.  The two paths of Solomon are vividly depicted in side-by-side books in the Bible: Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Proverbs records his great wisdom in governing his nation; Ecclesiastes records his great lack of wisdom in governing himself.


Proverbs ......................... Ecclesiastes
Solomon's wisdom ........... Solomon's foolishness
Book of wisdom ...............Book of error
God's truth ...................... Human philosophy

Solomon died after a reign of forty years, and was buried in the city of David, and "with him was buried the short-lived glory and unity of Israel.  He left behind him but one weak and worthless son, to dismember his kingdom and disgrace his name" (Easton's Bible Dictonary).

How sad that the man most renowned for his wisdom failed to pass the baton of wisdom to his son, simply because he strayed from the right path in his later life.



Some obvious questions for the two generations (Grandparents and Parents) who have had their chance at the baton of wisdom:

• Where's the baton of wisdom in your family?
• Was it ever handed off to you?
• What did you do with it?
• Did you hold fast to it, or drop it?
• Which path are you currently on, the right path or the wicked path?
• Will you allow pleasure and prosperity to lure you away from the right path?
• Will you finish strong on the right path?
• Which baton will you hand off to your children?  Wisdom or foolishness?  God's truth or human philosophy?

God help us to remember we don't live our lives unto ourselves only.  The way we run our race surely and certainly effects the next three generations.